Ever since we first published our fluffy, squishy (secret ingredient) slime recipe almost 3 years ago, I’ve been getting requests to make a fluffy slime without the use of liquid starch or diaper crystals… so it’s about time that I developed this easy 3-ingredient Fluffy Slime recipe!
My hesitation for the past three years has really been that we enjoy our original fluffy slime and most of the requests have not been made in the nicest way. I’ve received some scathing comments over the years about letting my daughter (and her friends) play with diaper crystals on that warm summer dayso for the most part, I ignored the nasty comments and continued making slimes at my daughter’s request – from our rainbow slime to this frozen snow slime.
However, I definitely see the need to use something other than diaper crystals – I mean, who wants to go out and buy diapers just to make fluffy slime?!
So, with the intention to make a fluffy slime with common household ingredients in mind – we started experimenting!
Since we made our first fluffy slime 3 years ago, a few new recipes have come out – but none of them were really hitting the spot for us. For me, making slime should bequick and easy because the mess management and clean-up can sometimes be time-consuming. (Not because slime has to be messy… but because my daughter is a mess monster.)
The most popular recipe I was finding online used foam soap, hand lotion, contact solution, shaving cream, corn starch, water, and borax – waaay too many ingredients for me.
I loved the idea to use shaving cream to make a recipe fluffy – in fact, that’s what I use to make our fluffy puff paint – but when I first tried it with liquid starch a couple years ago, it did not compare to our original fluffy slime.
And I hate using borax in slime. Hate it. I’m not anti-borax, but it’s sooo tricky to get right. After one too many ruined slimes I only use borax now in my homemade laundry detergent.
However, during our searches we foundthis new genius solution of using contact solution (one that contains boric acid as an active ingredient)to make bubble slime and I wondered if it would work to make fluffy slime… and by jove, it worked!
It’s a little “stickier” than our other slime recipes – but you can easily wipe the slime off your hands by sliding or rolling your hands together. It will stick to fabric, but comes off easily with some vinegar or a good soak in water – just be sure to wear an old t-shirt and if your house is fully carpeted, lay down a towel or cheap tablecloth.
Slime can require a bit of experimentation and patience, especially if you’re still new to it. If you run into any slime fails, check out this troubleshooting post to help fix your slime.
Before we get to the recipe, I had to tell you that it’s finally here! I wrote The (Ultimate) Slime Book oozing with over 50 pages of stretchable, squishy sensory fun – including a year of seasonal slimes, edible slimes and unique ways to play with slime.Click here to get more details.
You can purchase The Slime Book on Amazon, Book Depository, or at your local bookstore!
OK, without any further ramblings on my part, I present to you an Easy 3-Ingredient Fluffy Slime recipe that doesn’t useliquid starch or diaper crystals! This slime is stretchy, fluffy, clean to clean up and a complete sensory delight.
Be sure to check out our newest slime recipes – STRETCHY BUBBLE SLIMEor EDIBLE CANDY SLIME!
And if you love our fun play ideas, you can subscribe to our weekly newsletter (over there in the sidebar) or follow us on Instagram for more fun ideas!
Check out our video for how to make this easy 3-ingredient fluffy slime and then scroll down to get your free printable recipe:
Ingredients to Make Fluffy Slime
- White School Glue
- Shaving cream(less than a full canister)
- Contact lens (saline) solution – this is the brand I used
- Food dye, optional
SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE POST FOR A FREE PRINTABLE AND EXACT MEASUREMENTS – you need to ensure you are making it properly (read the directions) because just combining all of the ingredients without reading the directions won’t work 🙂
Tip: the contact solution must contain boric acid as an active ingredient. I linked the brand I used above. Contact solution is a diuretic so please don’t let young kids handle it and ensure your child washes their hands after playing with the slime as a precaution.
Second tip: slime is not something you can reliably measure. It’s by look and feel, so go slow and adjust as necessary. And knead, knead, knead.
Third tip: I highly advice ordering your glue online because stores are currently experiencing a shortage – my store only had 3 tiny bottles when I was there yesterday. If you’re in a pinch, hardware stores sell it in bulk!
Tools You May Find Helpful
- Large bowl
- Spatula <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
- Lots of wet rags
- Vinegar, for clean-up(yes, vinegar will effectively take slime out of hair, carpet, clothes… guess how I know?)
How to Make Fluffy Slime
Empty your glue into a large bowl.
Add glitter or food dye as desired and stir it in.
Start adding in the shaving cream. We emptied most of our 283g shaving cream canister into the slime mixture – but just keep adding until you don’t feel like there is any “just glue” left. It will continue to get thick and puffy.
The below picture is for reference – still too much glue/too liquidy.
Next, add in the contact solution. *Note: I did this step. Contact solution and eye drops can cause diarrhea if consumed, so please keep it out of reach of young kids. It’s not a risk on their hands as long as they wash their hands after playing with the slime (before eating).*
I added it in slowly, but we ended up using an entire bottle so you can definitely add 1/2 cup of solution at a time, and then start adding smaller amounts towards the end.
The contact solution serves as your “slime activator.”
Keep stirring everything with your spatula and adjust as needed.
The slime will start to form a large mass – this is what you want
Once the slime is cohesive, no longer sticky or appearing to have any liquid in the mixture, start kneading the slime – this is going to help it be less sticky (just like making homemade play dough).
Knead the slime for at least 2-3minutes before adding any more ingredients to adjust (you will likely need to add just contact solution).
When the slime has been thoroughly kneaded and adjusted, give it to the kids in a clean, wide-open area that you don’t mind getting a little messy.
…And stand back.
Pin this easy 3-ingredient Fluffy Slime:
Grab your free printable recipe card for our easy fluffy slime recipe:
Yield: 8 cups
A fun and easy tutorial for how to make fluffy slime. This 3-ingredient Fluffy Slime is viral for a reason!
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
DifficultyEasy
Estimated Cost$5
Materials
- 1 litre OR Quarter Gallon White School Glue
- 8-10 cups shaving cream (less than a full canister)
- 1-12oz bottle contact lens (saline) solution - this is the brand I used
- Food dye, optional
OR for a smaller portion:
- 1 cup glue
- 3 cups shaving cream
- 5+ Tablespoons contact lens solution (this will need to be adjusted based on your slime - things like humidity and type of shaving cream will mean you need more or less)
Tools
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
Instructions
- Empty your glue into a large bowl. Add glitter or food dye as desired and stir it in.
- Start adding in the shaving cream. We emptied most of our 283g shaving cream canister into the slime mixture - but just keep adding until you don't feel like there is any "just glue" left. It will continue to get thick and puffy.
- Next, add in the contact solution. We added it in slowly, but we ended up using an entire bottle so you can definitely add 1/2 cup of solution at a time, and then start adding smaller amounts towards the end. The contact solution serves as your "slime activator."
- Keep stirring everything with your spatula and adjust as needed.
- Once the slime is cohesive, no longer sticky or appearing to have any liquid in the mixture, start kneading the slime - this is going to help it be less sticky (just like making homemade play dough).
- Knead the slime for at least 3 minutes before adding any more ingredients to adjust.
- When the slime has been thoroughly kneaded and adjusted, give it to the kids in a clean, wide-open area that you don't mind getting a little messy.
- ...And stand back.
Notes
Tip: the contact solution must contain boric acid as an active ingredient. I linked the brand I used above. Contact solution is a diuretic so please don't let young kids handle it and ensure your child washes their hands after playing with the slime as a precaution.
Second tip: slime is not something you can reliably measure. It's by look and feel, so go slow and adjust as necessary.
Third tip: I highly advice ordering your glue online because stores are currently experiencing a shortage - my store only had 3 tiny bottles when I was there yesterday. If you're in a pinch, hardware stores sell it in bulk!
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I hope your kids (and you) love this easy 3-ingredient fluffy slime recipe – and if it gets on clothes or hair, it will come off really quickly with just a little bit of vinegar, just like all of our other slime recipes.
A couple of blogging friends have also tried contact solution and eye drops in their posts. Shelley made a stretchy slime with saline solution and Sarah made a stretchy slime with borax.
For more fun sensory play ideas, be sure to check outour full collection of Slime Recipes:
